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One more person has died with coronavirus in Wales and the infection rate across the country has risen slightly.

Latest data published by Public Health Wales on Monday, March 29, reported 125 new positive cases in the last 24-hour period which brings the total since the outbreak began to 209,191.

The overall number of people to have died in the country within a month of testing positive for the virus now stands at 5,506.

The infection rate across Wales is now 38.1 per 100,000 people, based on the seven days up to March 24 – up slightly from 37.8 on Sunday.

Meanwhile the percentage of tests coming back with positive results is now 2.8%, way below the key benchmark of 5%.

The latest figures also show that 1,400,750 people have received the first dose of a Covid-19 vaccine and 416,862 have had both doses.

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Uptake of the first vaccine dose by priority group (according to PHW):

Care home residents: 12,263 (96.2%) Care home workers: 33,472 (88.3%) Healthcare workers: 130,303 (91.4%) Social care workers: 43,410 (no percentage available) 80 years and older: 166,455 (94.9%) 75-79 years: 127,330 (95.5%) 70-74 years: 174,431 (94.9%) Clinically extremely vulnerable 16-69 years: 74,636 (91.5%) 65-69 years: 167,378 (92.8%) Clinical risk groups 16-64 years: 273,466 (78.1%) 60-64 years: 181,459 (88.3%) 55-59 years: 174,638 (74.8%) 50-54 years: 108,788 (47.8%)

Key details

Deaths reported today: One Cases reported today: 125 (down from 171)
Total deaths with lab-confirmed coronavirus in Wales: 5,506 Total number of people who have received the first dose of Covid-19 vaccine: 1,400,750 Total number of people who have received a two-dose course of Covid-19 vaccine: 416,862

Swansea was the county with the highest number of new cases confirmed on Sunday with 33, followed by Neath Port Talbot with 16, Cardiff with 13 and Gwynedd with 11.

All other counties had fewer than 10 new cases, including RCT and Carmarthenshire with seven, Caerphilly and Flintshire with five, Blaenau Gwent and Newport with four, and Vale of Glamorgan and Bridgend with three.

Five local authorities reported two cases including Torfaen, Anglesey, Conwy, Denbighshire and Wrexham, while Powys and Merthyr Tydfil reported one case each.

Pembrokeshire, Ceredigion and Monmouthshire all reported no cases on Monday.

Cases per 100,000 based on seven-day rolling average (March 18 to March 24):

Aneurin Bevan University Health Board

Blaenau Gwent: 48.7 (down from 54.4)

Newport: 47.2 (down from 49.1)

Caerphilly: 37.6 (up from 37.0)

Torfaen: 21.3 (up from 20.2)

Monmouthshire: 21.1 (unchanged)

Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board

Conwy: 42.7 (up from 41.8)

Anglesey: 118.5 (up from 114.2)

Gwynedd: 36.9 (up from 33.7)

Denbighshire: 25.1 (up from 19.9)

Flintshire: 52.5 (down from 57.7)

Wrexham: 19.9 (down from 23.5)

Cardiff and Vale University Health Board

Cardiff: 33.5 (up from 32.2)

Vale of Glamorgan: 26.2 (down from 28.4)

Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board

Merthyr Tydfil: 127.6 (down from 134.3)

Rhondda Cynon Taf: 22.4 (up from 20.7)

Bridgend: 17.7 (unchanged)

Hywel Dda University Health Board

Carmarthenshire: 24.9 (down from 25.4)

Pembrokeshire: 23.8 (up from 23.0)

Ceredigion: 5.5 (up from 4.1)

Powys Teaching Health Board

Powys: 21.1 (up from 20.4)

Swansea Bay University Health Board

Neath Port Talbot: 51.6 (up from 50.2)

Swansea: 65.2 (up from 62.3)

Wales total: 38.1 (up from37.8)

The ongoing pandemic has been very challenging for almost everyone and unsurprisingly it’s led to some people seeing an impact on their mental health and wellbeing.

The Samaritans has put together a series of tips for taking care of your mental health at the moment, with their experts suggesting the following strategies:

Making time for something you enjoy – whether it’s settling down with your favourite film, heading to your local park, or taking part in one of your hobbies or interests Taking a break from the news and social media to give yourself away from screens and devices Setting realistic goals for the day or week ahead and possibly breaking the things you need to do into a list of smaller tasks Trying relaxation exercises like controlled breathing or muscle relaxation Enjoying nature, whether that’s by getting out of the house or opening curtains and blinds to let natural light in. Plants and flowers can also be helpful Physical exercise can help reduce anxiety Talk to a trusted friend or family member about how you’re feeling There’s help available if you need it

Mind Cymru infoline is open Monday to Friday from 9am to 6pm. To contact them call 0300 123 3393.

Samaritans offers a listening service which is open 24 hours a day, on 116 123 (in the UK and Republic of Ireland this number is FREE to call and will not appear on your phone bill).

C.A.L.L. (Community Advice & Listening Line) offers emotional support and information/literature on mental health and related matters to the people of Wales and can be contacted on 0800 132 737 or through the website.

The NHS offers help and advice through its 111 service.

Dr Giri Shankar, incident director for the novel coronavirus outbreak response at Public Health Wales, said: “Welsh Government has announced the lifting of the ‘stay local’ requirement from Saturday, March 27, and that self-contained holiday accommodation can open for those who live in Wales. People should stay within the borders of Wales unless for essential travel such as work or education.

“In addition, six people from two households are able to meet outdoors, organised outdoors activities for children under 18 can resume, and libraries can re-open.

“This slight easing of Covid-19 lockdown rules is encouraging, however we need to be very clear that coronavirus has not gone away. While the number of cases is declining overall, there are still several areas which have higher rates and there are still a large number of people who have not been vaccinated. In order to protect everyone, including the most vulnerable, we must all stick to the rules.

“Everyone must maintain constant vigilance by keeping 2m apart from people that you don’t live with, practising hand hygiene and wearing a mask in indoor environments.

“It is clear that coronavirus has not gone away,

“Welsh Government restrictions state that you should not go into any other household or mix indoors with other people who you don’t live with.

“If you are contacted by your local TTP team then it is important that you are truthful with them about where you have been and who you have met. They are not there to judge, they are there to help prevent ongoing transmission of the virus and to protect the community.

“If you are asked to self-isolate by your local TTP team then please ensure that you do so for the full ten days – this will help break any chains of transmission.

“We encourage everyone, whatever their background, social demographic and ethnicity, to have the vaccine when they are offered it.”

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